SB226: Bill Text

SB226,1,4 An Act to renumber 341.12 (1); to amend 341.265 (1), 341.265 (1m), 341.266 (title), 341.266 (2) (c), 341.266 (2) (d) and 341.266 (3); and to create 341.12 (1) (b) and 341.15 (1g) of the statutes; relating to: a single registration plate for certain older vehicles.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) issues two license plates for each automobile, motor truck, motor bus, school bus, self-propelled mobile home or dual purpose mobile home registered on an annual or quarterly basis. Current law requires both license plates to be properly attached to the vehicle whenever the vehicle is operated.

This bill requires DOT to issue only a single license plate for these vehicles that are of model year 1968 or earlier. Current law requires vehicles for which only a single plate is issued to display the plate on the rear of the vehicle, except that some types of trucks and municipally owned vehicles may display the single plate on the front of the vehicle to enhance visibility of the plate.

The bill also requires DOT to issue only a single registration plate for specially registered "antique" vehicles (model year of 1945 or earlier) and for "collector" vehicles (motor vehicles 20 or more years old that are not used as primary transportation). The bill allows the owner of an antique vehicle, collector vehicle or vehicle that is of model year 1968 or earlier for which DOT has issued two registration plates to display either one or two plates at the owner's discretion.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB226, s. 1 Section 1. 341.12 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 341.12 (1) (a).

SB226, s. 2 Section 2. 341.12 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB226,2,6 341.12 (1) (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department upon registering a vehicle pursuant to s. 341.25 or 341.30 shall issue and deliver prepaid to the applicant only a single registration plate if the vehicle is of a model year 1968 or earlier.

SB226, s. 3 Section 3. 341.15 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB226,2,13 341.15 (1g) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the owner of a vehicle that is registered under s. 341.265 or 341.266 or that is of a model year 1968 or earlier and for which 2 registration plates were issued before the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], may remove and destroy one registration plate from the vehicle and display upon the vehicle one registration plate in the manner provided in this section.

SB226, s. 4 Section 4. 341.265 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,3,5 341.265 (1) Any person who is a resident of this state and the owner or subsequent transferee of a motor vehicle which has a model year of 1945 or earlier and which has not been altered or modified from the original manufacturer's specifications may upon application register the same as an antique vehicle upon payment of a fee of $5, and be furnished a single registration plates plate of a distinctive design, in lieu of the usual registration plates, which shall show in addition to the registration number that the vehicle is an antique. The registration shall be valid while the vehicle is owned by the applicant without the payment of any additional fee. The vehicle shall only may be used only for special occasions such as display and parade purposes or for necessary testing, maintenance and storage purposes. A motorcycle may be registered as an antique vehicle if all of the requirements for registration specified in this subsection are satisfied.

SB226, s. 5 Section 5. 341.265 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,3,11 341.265 (1m) A person who registers an antique motor vehicle under sub. (1) may furnish and display on the vehicle a historical plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle if the registration and plates distinctive plate issued by the department are simultaneously carried in or, with respect to an antique motorcycle, with the vehicle and are available for inspection.

SB226, s. 6 Section 6. 341.266 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,3,13 341.266 (title) Special interest vehicles ; registration, plates, use.

SB226, s. 7 Section 7. 341.266 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,3,19 341.266 (2) (c) The department shall furnish the owner of the vehicle with a single registration plates plate of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual registration plates, and those plates. The plate shall show that the vehicle is a special interest vehicle owned by a Wisconsin collector. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle without the payment of any additional fee.

SB226, s. 8 Section 8. 341.266 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,3,25 341.266 (2) (d) Each collector applying for a special interest vehicle registration plates plate will be issued a collector's identification number which will appear on each the plate. Second and all subsequent registrations under this section by the same collector will bear the same collector's identification number followed by a suffix letter for vehicle identification.

SB226, s. 9 Section 9. 341.266 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB226,4,5 341.266 (3) In addition to the fee in sub. (2) (b), there shall be an original (first time only) processing fee of $50 to defray the cost of issuing the original collector's special interest vehicle registration plates plate and to ensure that each collector will be issued only one collector's identification number.

SB226, s. 10 Section 10. Initial applicability.

SB226,4,8 (1) The treatment of sections 341.15 (1g) and 341.265 (1m) of the statutes first applies to vehicles operated on the effective date of this subsection.

SB226,4,11 (2) The treatment of sections 341.12 (1) (b), 341.265 (1) and 341.266 (2) (c) of the statutes first applies to registration plates issued on the effective date of this subsection.

SB226, s. 11 Section 11. Effective date.

SB226,4,14 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

SB226,4,15 (End)